Unit 2: Non-fiction and Informational Writing 2012 - 2013
Reading
Essential Questions:
What are the features of non-fiction text and how do you use them to help you comprehend?
Objectives:
Students will be able to understand nonfiction reading comprehension strategies and be able to apply them to their own reading.
Pre/Post Test:
Read a non-fiction article and respond to the comprehension questions.
Writing
Essential Questions:
How does an author use non-fiction text features to give information?
How does an author effectively communicate information?
Objectives:
Students will be able to write a feature article with informational paragraphs that include a lead, supporting details, and a conclusion.
Pre/Post Test:
Write a factual paragraph about something you know.(For example: an animal, or a sport). Your paragraph should include a lead, supporting details, and a conclusion.
Performance Assessment:
Students will apply what they have learned about the election to write a feature article. You are a reporter for the Fairview Focus. Write a feature article explaining the 2012 Presidential Election School Results. Your article should include the following headings: What are the political parties? Who were the nominees and their running mate? How were the results tabulated? What was the result?
Content:
Essential Questions:
How does the presidential election affect me?
Reading
Essential Questions:
What are the features of non-fiction text and how do you use them to help you comprehend?
Objectives:
Students will be able to understand nonfiction reading comprehension strategies and be able to apply them to their own reading.
Pre/Post Test:
Read a non-fiction article and respond to the comprehension questions.
Writing
Essential Questions:
How does an author use non-fiction text features to give information?
How does an author effectively communicate information?
Objectives:
Students will be able to write a feature article with informational paragraphs that include a lead, supporting details, and a conclusion.
Pre/Post Test:
Write a factual paragraph about something you know.(For example: an animal, or a sport). Your paragraph should include a lead, supporting details, and a conclusion.
Performance Assessment:
Students will apply what they have learned about the election to write a feature article. You are a reporter for the Fairview Focus. Write a feature article explaining the 2012 Presidential Election School Results. Your article should include the following headings: What are the political parties? Who were the nominees and their running mate? How were the results tabulated? What was the result?
Content:
Essential Questions:
How does the presidential election affect me?
Pre/Post Test:
Election Quiz
Vocabulary:
Ballot, Candidate, Economy, Constitution, Poll, Register, Nominee, Party, Running Mate, Term, Campaign, Incumbent, Democrat, and Republican.
Calendar:
FIELD DAY!
Language:
Content Pretest
Writing:
Writing Pretest
Reading:
Reading Pretest
Celebrating Our Writing from Unit 1 with Kinder Buddies!
Language:
Read – Gracie for President
Writing:
Two Types of Writing -
Describing paragraph about themselves
Reading:
Comparing Fiction and Nonfiction Texts
Language:
Read – Honest Abe’s Guide to Presidential Elections
Writing:
Organizing our Writing – Describing paragraph about themselves
Reading:
Lesson 4: Using “I wonder” statements – What do we want to know about the constitution?
Language:
Read – LaRue For Mayor
Writing:
Planning Writing – pull prompt from bag and they write
Reading:
Using “I Wonder” statements & exploring non fiction text features – What do we wonder about the Constitution?
Language:
Read – Vote for Me!
Writing:
Writing with Senses activity
Reading:
Using wondering and questioning strategies – What do we wonder about the election? Article “Who Will Win?”
TCAP practice
Language:
Read – Romney vs. Obama
Writing:
Writing with Senses activity (continued)
Reading:
Finding Answers to Wonderings and Questions – Article “Who Will Win?”
Language:
Read – Romney vs. Obama
Writing:
Organizing our Writing – Who are the nominees and their running mates?
Reading:
Finding Answers to Wonderings and Questions II – Article “Who Will Win?”
Language:
Read – Romney vs. Obama
Writing:
Organizing our Writing - Who are the nominees and their running mates?
Reading:
Inferring Unfamiliar Words from Context - Book Romney vs. Obama
Language:
Factual Writing – Article “Would You Want to be President?”
Writing:
Revising our Writing - Who are the nominees and their running mates?
Reading:
Inferring Unfamiliar Words from Context II - Book Romney vs. Obama
TCAP Practice
Language:
Read - Romney vs. Obama
Writing:
Writing an Introduction - Who are the nominees and their running mates?
Reading:
Skimming and Scanning – Book First Kids
Language:
Article from “Choosing American’s President”
Writing:
Publishing our Writing - Who are the nominees and their running mates?
Reading:
Thinking about the Main Idea – Article “The President Has Many Jobs” from Election Magazine
Language:
Read – Would You Want to Be President?
Writing:
Publishing our Writing - Who are the nominees and their running mates?
Reading:
Determining Fact and Opinion – Article “Would You Want to Be President?”
Language:
Read – Chapter 4 in Romney vs Obama
Writing:
Publishing our Writing - Who are the nominees and their running mates?
Reading:
Determining Fact and Opinion II - Chapter 4 in Romney vs Obama
TCAP Practice
FALL BREAK
FALL BREAK
Language:
Read – Chapter 5 in Romney vs. Obama
Writing:
Organizing our Writing – Our school election – How the election was conducted and results tabulated?
Reading:
Determining Important Ideas – Chapter 5 in Romney vs Obama
Language:
Read – Opportunity and Responsibility in Romney vs Obama
Writing:
Organizing our Writing - Our school election – How the election was conducted and results tabulated?
Reading:
Determining Important Ideas II - Opportunity and Responsibility in Romney vs Obama
TCAP Practice
Halloween
Language:
Read – Chapter 1 in Romney vs Obama
Writing:
Organizing our Writing - Our school election – How the election was conducted and results tabulated?
Reading:
Important Ideas and Supporting Details - Chapter 1 in Romney vs Obama
Language:
Read – Chapter 2 in Romney vs Obama
Writing:
Revising our Writing - Our school election – How the election was conducted and results tabulated?
Reading:
Main Idea and Supporting Details II – Chapter 2 in Romney vs Obama
Language:
Read – First Kids
Writing:
Publishing Newspaper
Reading:
Summarizing – First Kids if this gets pushed back they could summarize article of new president
ELECTION DAY!
Language:
Bring in Denver Post and read article
Writing:
Publishing Newspaper
Reading:
Summarizing II - First Kids if this gets pushed back they could summarize article of new president
Language:
Denver Post Article
Writing:
Publishing Newspaper
Reading:
Reader’s Response – What does this mean for U.S.?
Language:
Denver Post Article from Nov. 7
Writing:
Writing Post Test
Reading:
Content Post Test
Language:
Denver Post Article from Nov. 7
Writing:
Celebration
Reading:
Reading Post Test